TOP 24 stories of 2024 – editor’s choice!
From UNESCO places in Russia to Baikal's ice masterpieces: we’ve chosen our favorite articles that we published this year. Have you read all of them?
1. Ice masterpieces on Lake Baikal that will soon vanish
A whole kilometer of outlandish figures appear on the shores of the Baikal's Lake every February. We visited the amazing ‘Olkhon Ice Fest’, where ice sculptors exhibited their frozen masterpieces.
2. Peredelkino: What the Soviet writer’s paradise looks like today
In 1932, Maxim Gorky came up with the idea of creating a kind of literary residence. He selected 20 talented writers, providing them with all the material conditions and opportunities to sit and write books. Today, this is a place of attraction for creative people and hipsters.
3. How a BLIND Russian soccer player became a TikTok & YouTube star
Andrei Kuklin, a striker in the Russian blind soccer national team, is one of the best known visually impaired bloggers. Every day, he talks about his life and provides inspiration to others on his social media accounts.
4. Which foreigners helped the Bolsheviks win the Civil War in Russia?
More than 250,000 foreigners fought for "world revolution" during the Civil War in Russia. However, the Latvians and Chinese were of the greatest value to Soviet authorities. They fought effectively on the battlefield, protected members of the top state leadership and were indispensable in punitive operations.
5. Russian Classes: Nicknames of Russian rulers
Some of the nicknames need to be explained. For example, Vasily ‘the Dark’ didn’t have dark hair – he tragically lost his eyes during wartime. Vsevolod ‘the Big Nest’, meanwhile, got his name because of the number of children he had – eight sons and four daughters.
6. 33 incredible UNESCO sites located in Russia
More than 20 cultural and several more natural sites have been inscribed on the World Heritage List since 1990. Among them are white monuments of Vladimir & Suzdal, historical center of St. Petersburg, Moscow Kremlin & the Red Square and many more.
7. How alien robots & fantastic vehicles settled in a Siberian landfill
What can be made from a retired car, refrigerator or even tank, you ask? Well, an engineer-artist from Irkutsk decided to create an amazing park-museum… completely out of junk and scrap metal!
8. How Russia conquered the fragments of the great power of the Mongols
The Crimean Khanate posed the biggest problem of all the fragments of the Golden Horde; its troops once even managed to burn down Moscow. But, in time, Russia neutralized it, as well.
9. Did you know that the legendary horses from the bridge in St. Petersburg can be found in... Berlin?
One of St. Petersburg's calling cards – sculptures of horses held by young men – decorate the Anichkov Bridge. Every day, hundreds of tourists who visit the Northern Capital take pictures near them: if you don't have a photo with Peter Klodt's horses, then you've never been to St. Petersburg! But, did you know that you can see them not only there?
10. Russian Classes: Peter the Great and his passions
Would you like to get to know Russian Emperor Peter the Great better? Not as the ruler of a vast country, but as a human – with his own weaknesses and predilections. Of course, he loved his sea ships and Mother Russia, but let’s dig deeper!
11. 13 most beautiful ‘TEREM’ wooden palaces in Russia
What is a ‘terem’ actually? It’s a wooden palace, the one that resembles palaces from Russian fairy tales. It has a fanciful silhouette, rich carved decor and a gable roof. Maria Savina is the author of the ‘Terems of Russia’ project. She has traveled all over the country and taken photos of hundreds of wooden architecture masterpieces.
12. 7 most picturesque railroad routes in Russia
Want to enjoy beautiful scenery from the train window? Here are some travel ideas that will captivate you with unique and unusual views!
13. Moscow during World War II vs now
The battle for the Soviet capital became one of the key ones during the war. Check out what Moscow looked like during that horrible period and what the city looks like these days.
14. What happened to those whom Peter I sent to study abroad?
The tsar loved to study and would send his subjects to obtain new knowledge. In Europe, they had to master marine science, fortification, astronomy, painting and other sciences. In total, at that time, about 1,000 people were being educated abroad.
15. Russian Classes: What cat are you today?
The cat is one of – if not the most – popular pets to own in Russia: 49.9% of families own one (let that sink in!). Perhaps, that’s the reason why we have so many different words for them. Some of them you'll find in the pictures, but there are tons more.
16. 5 favorite destinations in Russia as per American professor William Brumfield
Architectural historian and photographer William Brumfield turned 80 in 2024. Most of his lifetime, he has been traveling across Russia and documenting Russian architecture. Brumfield has visited many small and big cities in Russia and has taken more than 150,000 photos of important architectural sites across the country.
17. How this Russian woman conquered ALL highest mountains of the WORLD
Alina Pekova has conquered all 14 mountain peaks that are over 8,000 meters high. Less than 50 climbers in the world have done it before her and she also became the first person from Russia on this list.
18. Why was a famous chemist nicknamed the ‘luminous monk’?
There are many legends about ghosts living in Moscow. In the 1920s, another one was added to them – about the ‘luminous monk’. Only, he wasn't a ghost at all, but… a living person!
19. Why was Tolstoy kicked out of the Russian Orthodox Church?
In 1901, the most famous Russian writer was declared a “false teacher” in Russia. An official decree was even issued that the Church “does not reckon him as its member” anymore.
20. How Polish troops helped the Red Army defeat the Nazis
Together with the Red Army, the 1st Polish Army stormed Berlin in the Spring of 1945. The Poles made up a tenth of all the forces that were rushing towards the “lair of the fascist beast”.
21. How Russia began to venerate its own image of the Mother of God
‘Our Lady of Vladimir’ is one of the most worshiped icons in Russia. Its copies and interpretations have spread throughout the country and millions of Orthodox believers pray in front of them. So, what’s so special about it?
22. How has the fashion for women's hats changed in Russia?
In the last century, leaving home without a headdress was considered indecent. And, if women in the countryside wore headscarves, then, in the cities, they always wore hats. Sometimes, the most bizarre types.
23. The sledge – Russia’s oldest transport
Russia’s oldest type of carriage has become a part of popular culture. What were the different types of sledges called and what were they for?
24. 10 OLDEST houses in Moscow
The oldest buildings in Moscow are ancient churches. But, in this collection, we’ve added chambers and palaces that had no religious purpose.
